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<title>1993: Logbook</title>
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<h1>Title page: 1993 LOG of RANTS</h1>
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<p>The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey out.<br>
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If this is of no interest, here is a link <a href="#id1993-161-1">to the
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caving</a>!
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<hr />26/6/93 | Journey out | <u>Adam</u>
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<p>Rant #1 Adam's trip here
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<p>OR - why do I get psychopath criminals on long hitch hikes in foreign
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countries.
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<p>Left Durham 8 am 24/6 & had merry time hitching to Dover via a turkey
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processing factory, getting there in 12 hours. 10pm ferry to Ostend as
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better place to find hitch out of, same price as Calais & only 4 hrs.
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Thumb out in the port area and "ee-gads" in 5 minutes someone
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stopped & they were going to Bulgaria via Saltzburg - my lucky number
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had come up. Except he was a complete psychopath, whose convoluted story
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unfolded for the next 13 hours of living, waking nightmare. First he wanted
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money for petrol - OK I thought, a good lift - so what. Apparently he had
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been radiation sick for 10 days after Chernobyl & I think it must have
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done him in. Things seemed just a bit odd until 9.30 am, the only things of
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note being the story of how he spotted the croupier cheating at a casino
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& 1) got £1000 off the casino to keep it quiet 2) got £2000
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off the victim to say how he was being cheated - this led to a private eye
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& some sugar in a petrol tank - sounded rather undergroundish. It seems
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this was not unconnected with my driver's flat being cleared out &
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£2500 being stolen - he claimed he knew who & would kill him. Now I
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believe the threat. Anyway, 9.30 he stops for a massage & a prostitute,
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despite claiming to not have enough money for petrol to Bulgaria. 20 minutes
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after starting again & we were drifting towards the crash barrier at 85
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mph (in a 1.2 Lada!) & it seemed appropriate to shake his arm to waken
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him. So we pulled over for a rest. Next we ran out of petrol in the middle
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of sodding nowhere, so off I tramped for 1 hour along the hard shoulder
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until the maniac reappeared, having obtained some petrol through a doctor
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who had stopped. Now he had said he had been a champion rallye driver for
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Bulgaria & as time went on it became clear he drove like a C++T. 4 wheel
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slide into a slip road. Overtaking on the hard shoulder just as it was about
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to run out, doing the same with inches of space either side - at 80 mph.
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Slotting into gaps 1.01 car length in size. He would probably have given
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Chris Sharman (in his driving madness heyday) white knuckles. All this
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pissed the Germans off a lot & they gestured & horned a bit. His
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response was to pull out the craft knife, which I had earlier sabotaged in
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case he used it to rob me, and to pick up a stone off the floor. The
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culmination of much high speed knobbing about to get in front of one driver
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who had expressed his displeasure was the propulsion of said stone at the
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other car. The result was a broken front screen & he (the other car)
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went into a tree. Clearly if this guy wanted to "do me in" he
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would.
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<p>Eventually we stopped in & on the wrong side of Munich as he wanted
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to sleep & I escaped, gibbering, never having been so scared for so
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long. Had to walk through Munich, & dossed for the night in a park.
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Saturday was shit - it rained all day, all lifts were short and it took 11
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hours to get to Hilde's. It is well worth walking from Bad Reichenhall to
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the border for a lift & not hitching on Sat as all cars <u>full</u>. All
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in all he demanded £40 and I lost a few weeks from my life so a)
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hitching can be dangerous to your health b) hitching is not as cheap as
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staying at home, c) I hope I get a lift from a caver going home - hint !
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<p>Adam.
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-1">30/6/93</a> | 161 - rigging | Nick, <u>Clive</u>
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<p>So, Adam was being organised & said we ought to go caving. We can make
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it to Knossos in 1 trip can't we. At Top Camp this goes down to the bottom of
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S'not. Get underground at 4 pm ! Set a precedent we do ! Adam rigged traverse
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line & [??] better than last year. Then Clive rigs Y-hang, rebelay, goes
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down looking for deviation. Then goes up & finds rebelay. Then slowly
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down again "I could do with a deviation here". Marvel of Marvels
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there is one (off a shit bolt). Eventually down (1 hr to rig !) It was
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my first one and I bet hundreds of people moan & rerig it etc. etc. rant
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rant. 2nd pitch. 11mm rope turned to steel hawser. Trying to put it in a
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clown - eventually hit it with a rock to make the bend small enough. Abbing
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silly impossible. Shit, push I went with the rope. Crabbed stop off. Push I
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went some more. Find another deviation. Whee ! (well, almost). Then off
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crawling a bit, decide we can't find S'not and exit. T/U 3 hrs (I even ran a
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bit back from T.C. it was so nice) ooh, it was epic.
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<p><a href="../1992/log.htm#id1992-161-19">Previous trip</a> (1992 derig) /
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Next trips: <a href="#id1993-161-2">more rigging in RHR</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-8">surveying in entrance area</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-7">Pushing in LHR</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1993-200-1">1/7/93</a> | Plateau - Prospecting | Adam, <u>Nick</u>, Andy W, Mike TS
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<p>Much time spent wandering about the plateau looking for caves. Two new
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(?) ones were found. At the first, Adam decided to abandon the traditional
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technique of chucking a rock down the hole, and lobbed his rucksack into it
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instead. Since this contained the rope, a ladder descent was deemed
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necessary. Adam went down, retrieved the rucksack, and found another pitch
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which proved to be too long for either the ladders or the rope. Hence a
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return visit is planned with more rope (>25m) to which end we have marked
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the route with a cairn (!) The second cave was narrow and sharp and didn't
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go anywhere.
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<p>TU Adam ¾ hr
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<p>[Editor's note: "Lost Rucksack Cave" was not found again in 1993, was
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relocated and better marked in 1995 and finally
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<a href="../1998/log.htm#id1998-200-1">descended in 1998</a>]
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<hr /> 2/7/93 | Plateau - Prospecting - 189 Glitterstompf | <u>Nick</u>, Clive, Spencer
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<p>Intended to explore 'Rucksack' Cave (see above), but decided to do a
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'tourist' down Ice cave next to 164. Very jolly, very cold - some ice
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formations, Some dodgy SRT practice occurred, under the excellent leadership
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of Clive - Mr. Safety himself. In short - we all got cold, Spencer's Stop
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got bent and no-one died. (Oooh it wasn't epic !)
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<p>T/U Nick ¾ hr Clive, Spencer ½ hr
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-2">2/7/93</a> | 161 - rigging into Knossos | Andy Waddington, Mike TS, <u>Adam</u>
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<p>Started rig from S'not, which Clive had failed to locate
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<p>[ grade 1 of how to find S'not ]
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<p>Had to put a new bolt in at ~-6m (from the large thread at the top) as
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suspect previous riggers had used a dodgy thread which fell down the pitch
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with 2 hammer blows. Zoomed to bottom & hence to Chunnel Pitch, which
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was >7m (as the rigging guide sez) so we had to use a Bungalow/Poxy pitch
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rope & cut the top off the new 11mm rope for Poxy. Andy was cold &
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running thin on light (stinky was dead, Zoom was of unknown duration) so
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left at Bungalow. Easy rigging down into Knossos, noting the new Hilti bolt
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on the R from the top belay is much better & gives a fine freehang.
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Poked about in Yapate etc. to familiarise Mike with system. Out from near
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Flat Battery in just over 1½ hours to find epic thunderclaps etc.
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Fortunately not too wet. Good trip.
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<p>T/U Mike, Adam 7½ Andy 5
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-1">Previous trip</a> /
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Next trips: <a href="#id1993-161-2">Side leads in RHR</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-4">Beyond Yapate</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-1">3/7/93</a> | 161 - France | Nick, <u>Clive</u>
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<p>This time Nick was being keen. Once more the intrepid team of finding
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ability (first take a compass bearing, then walk in a random direction
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anyway, viz.: Juniper Gulf, Juniper Gulf again, the right way out of
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Salzburg, S'not, Rucksack Cave, the list is seemingly endless) set off,
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rucksacks lightly loaded with rope coz we were feeling clever this time with
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the intention of rigging the first 130m of rope down France. At first we
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thought we'd broken the jinx. Wandered from KH, down and to right and lo and
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behold: 161c or "Guess what I've found". Change, Nick wanders off
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with bolts, I'm left to pack 137m of rope into <u>my</u> tackle sack (sigh,
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forgot to tell people this morning). Ooops - horribly tangled as predicted.
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Never mind - some later (3.20 pm) off down cave. Nick begins rigging [??]
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finds devn eventually. Then he bored so I have a go - Nick mysteriously tied
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his dangly bag round the rope - how silly - and had to go up rerigging as he
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went to untangle himself. Clive meanwhile on failing carbide, goes slowly
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down & runs into rub - I want a deviation ! or was it Nick first.
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Anyway, much faffing and looking later, Clive pissing off out for a piss
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& carbide change, we get pissed off. Wish we'd had a bolting kit - so
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much easier ! and I leave to find greedy bastards had eaten all the food and
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the rest of the world all appearing very drunk !
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<p>T/U Clive 4 Nick 4½ ?
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<p><a href="../1992/log.htm#id1992-161c-5">Previous trip</a> (1992 France
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derig) / <a href="#id1993-161c-2">Next trip</a>
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<hr />4/7/93 | Plateau - Prospecting |<u>Spencer</u> & Nick
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<p>While we were prospecting we found a small cave, no name. It was bottomed
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with a Zoom in 10 min. 2 entrances, about 10m apart underground or 30m apart
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above ground 'cos the terrain is ridges & valleys. About 5 mins from Top
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Camp 90° anticlockwise from Khole. Sketch over ->
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<p>[grade 1]
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<p>We put red crosses (or plusses) on each entrance.
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<p>TU - Spencer 10 mins ! Nick - 2 mins. !!!
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<p>Please - leave room for more accurate cave location if anyone ever finds
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it again:
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<p>DON'T BOTHER !
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<p>Rucksack Cave remains to be found again, so if you fancy wandering around
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the plateau for several hours talk to Adam or Nick for misdirections.
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<hr />1993-07-04 | Plateau - Photographic trip. | Andy W
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<p>T/U. nil.
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-2">4/7/93</a> | 161 - France | <u>Hugh</u>, Julian H, Ali, Pete L
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<p>Second day on expo, walked up to top camp with radio gear, supplies and
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general caving shit gear. Assembled radio and aerial etc. then headed for
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entrance to France. Followed previous rigging. Started rigging from 'Roll of
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the Dice' (inc) for another 140 metres of rope adding in a few missing spits
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on the way down. Rigging stopped at the top of the pitch above Algeria due
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to no more rope. Got out of the cave with lors of ranting and headed back to
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Top Camp, watched interesting bolts of lightning move towards us. Decided to
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head for car ! From car park down watched heap big storm. Got caught in
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storm, visibility nil, rain lots, lightning scary. We were all scared !
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Arrived safely at base camp, ate slop, and decided being alive was great.
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<p>T/U 9 hrs
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<p><a href="#id1993-161c-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161c-3">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-3">4/7/93</a> | 161 - Tourist | <u>Tess</u>, Wookey
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<p>Tourist trip, intended to visit Knossos, but its hard work this caving
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lark. Bottom of second pitch doesn't look at all like survey. Hading rift
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pitch at end of passage - worth a look ? Looked at Big Sainsbury's, down
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S'not, Over t'Rainbow, Bungalow. Ticked off ? above Chunnel Pitch.
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<p>Now the comment: It were grim. F'in 2nd + last time I do SRT, especially
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on naff Wadders gear <- ie. ancient set up. Stinky died. Crashed head.
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Stinky died again ! Mutter. Grumble. Caving ...
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<p>T/U 5 hrs
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-4">Next trip (Beyond Yapate)</a>
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<hr />7/7/93 | Base Camp - THE FUCK OFF BIG ABSEIL OFF THE CLIFF PAST GRUNDLESEE | JulianT, Wookey, <u>Clive</u>
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<p>Go there - a 200m freehang, the Austrians said. Slog uphill, rig off
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hill, debate about rubs, rebelays (subsequently dealt with by tying a
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tacklesack to the rope). Eventually Wooks goes down with spare rope cos it
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thinks it is 20m too short. Bottoms years later. Jumps onto van (pitch free
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doesn't work !) Julian next - lot of gibbering. Then me. Probably fairly
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typical reaction "Fuck me I'm a long way up & scared". Then
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tackle sack 'tector falls down rope. Watch it land 200m later, oops. Carry
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on. Abseil slowly, stop getting very hot. How to uncrab a stop mid descent -
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use chest jammer to hold rope (from "stop"go'to'stop") and 2
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hands to take crab out of stop. More descent. More heat. More bounce. Why
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does it still look like I'm only half way down. More. I'm scared. Think
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about rope melting. Still abseiling slowly. Think about rubs. Abseil non
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bouncily (or try to). Wave at Germans. SWEAR loudly. God I'm scared. Abseil
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some more. "How far to the bottom" Still feels like halfway up.
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Hands knackered from gripping rope. Stop hot. Ledge - take some weight off
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rope - mistake - feed several metres of rope through stop without moving
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then fell. Please don't bounce this much. Scared. Abseil and this is the
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last bit isn't it. Abseil. Land. GROUND ! I'm safe. Legs numb, forgot how to
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walk on scree slope. Say hello to ground party - walk around a while. Tell
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tourists a rope will soon fall on their heads. Have a random conversation
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with them coz their English is about as good as my German. Rope falls. Whish
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noisy - very impressive fall. Tanglepack. Home. The others say they were
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scared too. The end love Clive.
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<p>T/U none, T/abs ~ 15 min each
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-4">4/7/93</a> | 161 - Kaninchenhöhle Push Final Cut | Mike TS & <u>Adam</u>
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<p>Rigged from Yapate as far as Final Cut & it looked smaller than I
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recalled. Traverse over hole into continuation of hading rift (which goes up
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where). Struggled to put 2 bolts in - drill just fitted in narrow rift. MTS
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went down first, demonstrating that there wasn't much space in the slot for
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gear or lard. Only 2m down traversed off into dry bit away from wet pitch.
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20m (ish) along in direction of Burble found another slightly wider slot,
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which turned out to be a superb 45m freehang, dry pitch. Continuing along
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rift above pitch is an unclimbed 2m, up pitch, which might lead to an
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alternative descent. At bottom of 45m pitch the passage turns back to break
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into the avoided wet pitch again via another not overly large slot.
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<p>We had no rope left so made an honourable exit to meet Wook & Tess on
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the entrance pitch. Just made Top camp before a huge storm.
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<p>T/U 9 hrs.
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-5">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-5">7/7/93</a> | 161 - Gob on you | Nick, Adam, <u>Mike TS</u>
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<p>to Gob on You then some pushing. Got to the entrance and Adam and I found
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our furries wetter than when we had left them to dry - see Hugh's account of
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epic thunderstorm.
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<p>After a rather grim Yorkshire-style change we bounced on down to Yapate,
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Gob on you and nice big pitch which is so far nameless. By this time Nick
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had given up on his carbide which hummed but produced no flame. Adam started
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bolting from the narrow slot at the bottom of nameless pitch and continued
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to do so for the next 2 hrs (yawn, shiver). The route down rejoined the
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water from Gob on You and was mainly on lovely 9mm rope (gibber). We found
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the bottom 120m down this pitch and at a total depth of 480m. Footprints
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were found at the bottom and a couple of spits were found on the way out -
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it turned out that we had joined the bottom of Dehydration. We had planned
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to survey on the way out but compass and clino had misted up so this will
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have to be done later - any takers ? I thought I could find my way out so
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let Adam zoom off out. By the time Mike and I had returned to Yapate he was
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somewhat tired and my electric backup was giving up - my carbide having
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already run out.
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<p>By the time we got to the top of Knossos I had no light at all so we had
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a serious carbide fettle. I was left with a carbide that just worked and
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Nick with a dodgy FX5 due to the top of the Oldham box being ripped off in
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the slot at the bottom of Gob on You. We slowly prussiked out.
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<p>T/U Adam 10 hrs Mike 12½ hrs Nick 13 hrs
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<p>It was fucking x<strike>epic</strike>x I nearly died<br>
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censored
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-4">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-6">Next trip</a> (Far Too Far) /
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<a href="#id1993-161-10">Derigging Gob</a>
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<hr />9/7/93 | Base camp | Nick
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<p><a name="drunkrant">Fuck all happened</a>. Noone went
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caving. Somebody went shopping, Ali's birthday so we threw him in the river.
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Seemed the proper thing to do. I am pissed in case you haven't noticed. Lots
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of beer. No caving. A good day. Adam was a hard bastard and went walking for
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miles and miles. My writing is almost as crap as Clive's and I am pissed. We
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had a treat tonight. Celebration. No bean slop. Sausages and chicken. A good
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day, too much meat and beer.
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<p>This is probably all illegible. Basically we got pissed. Ali & MTS
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sharked and failed. So what. Your local pissed bastard.<br>
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<u>W</u><br>
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Nick the alcy
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<p>AAAAARGHH !!!!! [this last written diagonally across an entire page, Ed.]
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-3">8/7/93</a> | 161c - France | <u>JulianH</u>, Pete, Alistair
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<p>General plan was for me to continue rigging to the pushing front from
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Frogs Legs onwards whilst Pete and Ali looked down side hole with apparently
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water at the bottom. Much faffing at entrance then Pete rerigged some of
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entrance pitches so that boulder slope below Roll of the Dice was less epic.
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Rerigged top of Frogs Legs as big 'Y-hang' to make get-off easier then Ali
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lobbed a rock down their pitch. It took about 4 seconds to reach the
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bottom ! We decided this must go into Algeria and therefore continued
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there via original route. This hypothesis needs checking sometime. I rigged
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the big pitch into Algeria initially with 39m rope - more than a little bit
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too short. Then tried new 200m rope - rebelay at the top of the chamber is
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absolutely stunning ! Eventually rigged down to the pushing front then Pete
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and Ali went down scrotty hole with water to find more pitch (~50m or so). I
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looked at hole in corner of chamber below "Orient Express"; rigged
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and found crap small hole and tight rift. Crap small hole was below
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<u>very</u> unstable sandy roof and unlikely to go anywhere .·. not
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pushed. Tight rift was tried without danglies but was defintely too tight.
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Throwing rocks suggested either deep pool (or sump ?) beyond - definitely
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much larger than the few metres of rift. Eventually gave up and went to find
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Pete and Ali. Pete placed crap spit then everyone too cold/tired/pissed off
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and started heading out. On the way out Ali knocked a fucking enormous rock
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off "Orient Express" which crashed and crashed down towards Pete
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and I on pitch below. Fortunately rock stopped before pitch otherwise 2 very
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dead cavers ! Many rocks knocked off on the way out in various places. To
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quote previous year's log book entry, KH is "Fucking cold, fucking
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loose and very, very brown." Rope below Orient Express definitely needs
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checking before descending because of rock fall ! Whole of France requires
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lots of care to avoid killing people !
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 11½ hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161c-4">Next trip</a>
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|
|
|
<hr />11/7/1993 | Top camp - (callout) Höhlenrettungbessofene | Wadders
|
|
|
|
<p>Drive of the mad yobbos commenced after jury rigging CB into Wadders van;
|
|
two cars up toll road at a mad dash. Stamped on jury wire and blew fuse just
|
|
as top camp called rescue off, but had sent four heroic rescuers ahead on
|
|
path before reestablishing communication. Clive selflessly stayed up at the
|
|
radio shouting "All clear at Top Camp" until we finally got sorted
|
|
and replied from a sensible place. Came home. What heroes ! T/U nil.
|
|
|
|
<p>For information: mobile radio is <u>crap</u> from usual parking place but
|
|
works fine from Kehre 13 (first right hand hairpin on way down). Probably OK
|
|
from edge of car park too. Couldn't raise top camp, but heard them from
|
|
~½ way up toll road.
|
|
|
|
<p>[there follows a grade 1 elevation "New bit of France (below Orient
|
|
Express)" connected to the previous write-up by a long arrow and
|
|
labelled "Danger - done when pissed, no survey" ]
|
|
|
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-6">8/7/93</a> | 161 - The bitter end (KH, Far Too Far) | Wook, Lummat, Julian Todd
|
|
|
|
<p>Very slow. So much faffing we did not enter till 1.30pm. Plonder down to
|
|
Yapate (trying to explain route to Lummat so he can explore the cave without
|
|
us from now on because he's keen). Lummat picks ammo box drill battery and
|
|
its hinges come off and everything apart from the lid thumped down Staircase
|
|
39 after he prussiked up it. Box was a bit mangled and I couldn't get the
|
|
batteries to work on the drill so we abandoned it. We froze in Chicken Flied
|
|
Nice while Wook rigged next pitch and 4 ring bolts and lots of knitting at
|
|
rebelay for the tyrolean. Abbed down, prussiked up fixed rope at other side,
|
|
then constructed the tyrolean with 1 SRT rope and 2 climbing rope backups.
|
|
Lummat and I were slightly concerned by the fact that this was now our only
|
|
way back. On to the nonsense in Satan's Sitting Room with Wook pointing out
|
|
all these undescended pitches on either side of the route. The place looks
|
|
vicious. We put in a few more traverse lines. We faffed a lot in the walking
|
|
passage beyond until it was suddenly 11:15 pm and I was dog tired and sick
|
|
of sucking on fudge having missed about 4 meals now. Wook explored some
|
|
horizontal passage at the farthest far end. Was too tired to get scared on
|
|
tyrolean back. Not entirely convinced of its effectiveness in shortening the
|
|
trip. Can we rename Boulder Alley as Shit Alley now ? It was dawn when we
|
|
got out.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 16 hours !
|
|
|
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-5">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-17">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-7">10/7/93</a> | 161 - Pushing KH beyond Arrow Chamber | Lummat, <u>Dave G</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>We planned a six hour trip to look at a question mark beyond Arrow
|
|
Chamber. Some chance. Neither of us knew the cave, but we managed to find
|
|
the chamber fairly easily. We rigged a lunatic traverse with no handholds
|
|
across the two huge holes in the chamber, and reached the undescended pitch
|
|
via a five metre pitch at the back of Arrow, into a comfortable passage that
|
|
forks. We took the right hand fork, and rigged a twenty metre pitch into an
|
|
Alpine pitch-ramp system which quite excited Lummat ! Bolted the twenty
|
|
metre pitch at the top of the ramp and decided that it was time to return.
|
|
We reached the entrance pitch at 10 pm, top camp at 2 am. Hmm..
|
|
|
|
<p>Well, it was like this: I began to feel ill at the top of S'not, and by
|
|
the time I was prussiking up the entrance pitch, I had lost all strength. I
|
|
got strung up on the last rebelay, hung around for over an hour and spent
|
|
about twenty minutes of that hour chundering down the pitch. Eventually,
|
|
Lummat managed to drag me up. Two hours of aimless wandering along the
|
|
plateau (vainly following 251° compass bearing) followed, accompanied
|
|
by lots more chundering, falling into inconveniently placed holes and mad
|
|
charging through colonies of bunde bushes, and top camp was reached, only
|
|
about five hours later than we had planned. Top camp was finally found by
|
|
following through the heavy mist JulianS's, Hugh's and Anthony's zooms, as
|
|
they hurried around Top camp preparing for a rescue trip down Khöle.
|
|
Base camp were also getting into action. By the time we had reached Top
|
|
Camp, Wookey and Wadders had almost reached the top of the toll road. They
|
|
were saved a trek to top camp thanks to a hastily cobbled together CB in the
|
|
Wadmobile, three zoom batteries attached together in series and lots of
|
|
quick thinking on Hugh's part (which I hope someone will get around to
|
|
ranting about soon, in some more detail)
|
|
|
|
<p>That was Saturday in Top Camp. Sunday was spent in Pete's tent, all five
|
|
of us in our pits (me, Lummat, JulianS, Anthony, Hugh) watching the weather
|
|
doing its act - rain sleet, mist, drizzle, hail, and, of course, over an
|
|
inch of snow ! Add to this a) no car at the Berg Restaurant and b) no radio
|
|
contact with Base Camp, and you have the makings of a productive and
|
|
fun-filled day !
|
|
|
|
<p>Go caving, they said. It's fun, they said. Expo is ace, they said.
|
|
|
|
<p>THEY WERE WRONG !!!
|
|
|
|
<p>TU - 10 hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-1">Previous trip</a> (rigging in) /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-9">Next trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-8">Entrance area trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-8">10/7/93</a>| 161 - P<strike>ushing</strike> Surveying hole at bottom of 2nd pitch | Anthony D, Hugh A, <u>Julian S</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Wandered down. Some surveying was done. Got bored and found a passageway
|
|
which led back to Big Sainsbury's. Re-"found" Skull pitch - oh,
|
|
and pushed horrible - upward sloping rift but it dead-ended. Threw rocks
|
|
down pitch at end and they went down for miles.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 4½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-1">Previous trip</a> (rigging in) /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-12">Next trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-7">Left Hand Route trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-9">12/7/93</a> | 161 - Beyond Arrow Chamber | <u>Lummat</u>, Mike TS
|
|
|
|
<p>Descended 161 to Arrow Chamber and to top of 2nd pitch in Pitch-Ramp
|
|
Series. Descended pitch to second ramp. Single bolt rebelay, deviated by
|
|
rocking boulder still required & protector to descend to 3rd ramp.
|
|
Ascending ramp led to too tight a trench and expiry of phreatic tube.
|
|
|
|
<p>Returned to Left-hand fork from Arrow Chamber. Found pitch-ramp series
|
|
without pitches. Phreatic tube passable for a short distance.
|
|
|
|
<p>[grade 1 sketch]
|
|
|
|
<p>Returned to top of Pitch-Ramp Series. Traversed across top of pitch to
|
|
possible continuation of phreatic. Didn't go anywhere - dropped back into
|
|
vertical.
|
|
|
|
<p>[full page grade 1 sketch of Pitch-Ramp Series]
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 5½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-7">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-11">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-10">14/7/93</a> | 161 - Kaninchenhöhle - Gob - survey & derig | Wookey & <u>Adam</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>We came, we surveyed & we derigged. Nothing too epic happened, the
|
|
worst being breaking a (measuring) tape whilst trying to plumb a pitch. The
|
|
48m rope was found to be on a 52m pitch, which suggests -!. (previously
|
|
thought to be 45m) It was cold & wet & dark & took ages, but we
|
|
had a good time until we came out & it was raining.
|
|
|
|
<p>Postscript - the survey loop with the bottom of Half Shaft was < 0.1%
|
|
:-)
|
|
|
|
<p>The 52m pitch is called 'Alexander Technique'. The climb reached after
|
|
traversing over the top of Alexander Technique was done & a few metres
|
|
further along the rift, the small passage broke into the side of an aven
|
|
(drippy). From the survey, this is nowhere near anything already known and
|
|
should be done.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU 11 hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17">Next RHR trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-11">Left Hand Route trip</a> &
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-12">Entrance area trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-11">14/7/93</a> | 161 - Survey and derig beyond Arrow Chamber | Lummat, Nick, <u>Dave G</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>("Chunder Pitch Series")
|
|
|
|
<p>Two trips were planned on 14/7, one by Julian S, Anthony and Hugh to look
|
|
at lead off Big Sainsbury's and one by L, N and DG down to Arrow Chamber.
|
|
Ours almost didn't happen because there was not a single working clino in
|
|
Top Camp. We took a clouded one up to the cave in the hope that it might
|
|
clear up. It didn't. So, after much faffing and discussion, J,A,H and N went
|
|
down to push while L and DG went Bunde bashing. Having found a promising
|
|
hole we went back to the cave mouth to get Zooms etc. and found the clino
|
|
clear. Yes, we are going caving we said ! We finally set off 2 hours late,
|
|
Nick joined at the bottom of Big Sainsbury and we went and surveyed,
|
|
regularly stopping to shout at the blasted cloudy clino. DG managed to get
|
|
stuck climbing up through a nice tight squeeze. Hmm... Got out and it was
|
|
wet and horrible (Rained all next day at Top Camp. What a surprise. Lummat
|
|
is the Rain God).
|
|
|
|
<p>TU Nick 8½ hrs David G + Lummat 7½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-9">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-15">Next LHR trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-10">Right Hand Route trip</a> &
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-12">Entrance area trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-12">14/7/93</a> | 161 - "Ignore this bit" | Anthony, Hugh, <u>Julian S</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Went Caving
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 6 hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-8">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-14">Next ITB trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-11">Left Hand Route trip</a> &
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-10">Gob derig trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-13">1993-07-16</a> | 161 - Kaninchenhöhle - Photo/tourist/geology trip | <u>Andy</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Managed to walk to the cave before the inevitable thunderstorm struck,
|
|
which it did just as I was putting on Solid Rubber Trussing gear. First -
|
|
try out photo gear in Big Sainsbury's. Difficult solo isn't it ? Slave flash
|
|
seems to have disappointing range. Then on down S'not looking for subjects.
|
|
Another couple at Chunnel pitch, then decided that a tripod and ammo can
|
|
tied together really were <u>too</u> awkward to carry, so dumped the kit and
|
|
headed on down. Crap takeoff to Bungalow Pitch, chaps, even if it is
|
|
improved... Almost failed to find Boulder Alley .... almost wished I had.
|
|
Knossos is a fine pitch - would be excellent on ladders (both as a climb and
|
|
for photography). Some random wandering in Tower Hamlets before finding
|
|
Waterfall Chamber and Carrefour. Then YAPATE. Wow ! nice passage in Austria
|
|
- almost unheard of ... Staircase 36 nice pitch - looks an awful climb ! And
|
|
so to Chicken Flied Nice - now this really <u>is</u> nice passage. Poke head
|
|
into Strange Downfall, then the aven in Burble. Start geologising.
|
|
|
|
<p>The Burble aven is on a small fault/joint (looks a little shattered so
|
|
probably the former)
|
|
|
|
<p>The tube of the crawl is wholly on the south side of this fault and is
|
|
formed on the same horizon as CFN which is a massive creamy white limestone
|
|
just above a layer of more thinly bedded stuff. The bottom of the aven, and
|
|
the canyon in the floor of Burble and CFN, cut down into two shelly bands.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="../../1623/161/fullsize/cfngeo.png">
|
|
<img src="../../1623/161/inline/cfngeo.png" width=300 height=265></a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Chicken Flied Nice has nice scallops indicating fairly slow flow to the
|
|
north. There are much smaller, ie. higher energy, scallops in the canyon
|
|
walls - the direction of these near Strange Downfall isn't very clear. The
|
|
roof scallops in Burble are also smaller, suggesting a faster-flowing
|
|
tributary to the main palæotrunk of CFN. The Burble aven fault has
|
|
just about fizzled out before reaching CFN, showing, if at all, as just a
|
|
tiny parting in the wall. There are pretty much no significant joints in
|
|
CFN, and this remains true at the 100° bend - so this is apparently not
|
|
joint-determined. This all changes at Staircase 36...
|
|
|
|
<p>Staircase 36 is developed on an approx east-west fault with a downthrow
|
|
of c 1.5m to the south. This is clearly visible in the wall to your right as
|
|
you face the rock on the climb/abseil. The wall of S36 cuts through both the
|
|
shelly bands noted above which show up very clearly as the rock is so clean.
|
|
The same cannot be said of the YAPATE side of Gob on You, which is much
|
|
muddier. There may well be one/more en echelon faults here, but its not very
|
|
clear. Adam's write-up puts the main Gob fault/joint on 260°. YAPATE
|
|
appears to be formed on exactly the same horizon as CFN, but the shelly
|
|
bands aren't visible because of the mud. I couldn't see them by peering down
|
|
Flapjack, but this is hardly surprising. All the geology on the way back is
|
|
harder, due to either collapse or mud or both !
|
|
|
|
<p>Knossos nice to climb. Bad ascender slip on Poxy, Bungalow, Chunnel and
|
|
some on S'not. Entrance pitch OK. There are some shell bands on entrance
|
|
pitch too, but I didn't make careful notes. Very slow out. T/U 6¾
|
|
hours. All dry on surface !
|
|
|
|
<p>A.
|
|
|
|
<p>PS. CFN is the nicest and most interesting place I've seen underground on
|
|
expo.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17">Next RHR trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-15">17/7/93</a> | 161 - Arrow Chamber Nick | Hugh, <u>Dave G</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>We intended to descend one of the holes in Arrow Chamber (either Baker or
|
|
Candlestickmaker, whichever proved more convenient.) The descent was done
|
|
via an epic traverse, a spaghetti junction-like tangle of ropes at the
|
|
pitch-head, and a wonderfully tight hanging rebelay, all of which were
|
|
rerigged on the way out by Nick to make the pitch more caver-friendly. The
|
|
holes in the chamber turned out not to be holes at all, but part of a deep
|
|
elliptical chamber, thirty-ish metres across and about fifteen metres wide,
|
|
of which much of Arrow Chamber seems to be a rather dubious false floor. We
|
|
went down thirty metres of what we thought was the floor of the chamber, a
|
|
large flat debris strewn area with two large holes at either end. A little
|
|
bit of poking around soon showed up the "floor" to be a lot of
|
|
rocks kept in place by a lot more rocks - a metre deep false floor
|
|
precariously suspended thirty metres above what might be the real floor of
|
|
the chamber. We had neither time nor rope to descend further, so we headed
|
|
out, connecting the survey of Chunder trip pitch with Arrow Chamber on the
|
|
way.
|
|
|
|
<p>It was dry when we got out of the cave ! Something is going horribly
|
|
right with the weather !
|
|
|
|
<p>TU 8½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-11">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-16">Next LHR trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-4">16/7/93</a> | 161 - France | Julian H, Ali, <u>Pete L</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>THE END !
|
|
|
|
<p>Too much caving led to the pushing front from last year - Titfield
|
|
Thunderbolt. We soon found that my impressions from last time were right and
|
|
that the new bit of cave I'd found was too wet, too tight & too awful.
|
|
Julian descended, ignored my shit spit, and found pitch "Attempted
|
|
Penetration" - about 25m down to v. loose boulder slope
|
|
"Disintegration". Character of cave now changed from huge
|
|
chambers, big pitches etc. to classic (ie. awful) rift/water development.
|
|
After boulder slope, another short pitch - Fat Knot Fruity, due to epic(ish)
|
|
large knot led to a short pitch to what we thought was a sump - rigged off
|
|
robust threads, hence "Natural Deception". Unfortunately this gave
|
|
onto a short boulder slope into an absolutely typical Yorkshire streamway
|
|
(in 161 ?) - cascades, pools, the works. This terminated in a ~20m pitch
|
|
crapply rigged on 4 traverse bolts with much rubbing, into a small chamber
|
|
which appeared to go underneath a fallen boulder. Thankfully the streamway
|
|
quickly led to an awful tight sump at ~-450m. Much prussiking remained to
|
|
exit; everyone was too fed up and had no gear to commence the survey.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU 8½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-3">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161c-5">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-5">17/7/93</a> | 161 - France - The same Likewise | <u>Pete L</u>, Ali, Julian H
|
|
|
|
<p>After a burst of sumping, we were all <u>too keen</u> and went caving
|
|
again to survey and de-rig up to Algeria. Donning of wet gear was followed
|
|
by a quick descent to Algeria where Ali & Petel started to survey &
|
|
Julian started bolting some of the other leads, promising to follow the
|
|
surveyors shortly. After 3½ hrs we'd surveyed to the streamway, where
|
|
Julian joined us. Surveying eventually took 4+ hrs, after which I (Petel)
|
|
pissed off to Titfield Thunderbolt whilst Ali & Julian derigged all the
|
|
pseudo-Yorkshire bits below. When they turned up I took a tacklesack &
|
|
went up Orient Express, now measured as a freehanging (well almost) 52.1
|
|
metres. I dumped this in Algeria & carried on to the entrance,
|
|
prussiking the top 200m one footed (.·. slowly) due to blisters and
|
|
leaving Ali & Julian to derig T.T. & O.E.
|
|
|
|
<p>After waiting 45 mins at entrance, I was a bit worried, and decided to
|
|
start for rescue. Fortunately I heard a shout from below so stuck about. At
|
|
+1hr Julian emerged & I found that derigging O.E. had taken 1½ hrs
|
|
due to the epic boulder that Ali had dislodged 2 trips ago having landed
|
|
over the rope; it was too big for 2 cavers to lift, so 50+m of rope had to
|
|
be pulled underneath it - then remained the task of hauling 150m of rope up
|
|
O.E. Rope was left at Algeria to be derigged and used in further pushing of
|
|
leads.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 7½ hrs Petel<br>
|
|
8½ hrs Julian H, Ali
|
|
|
|
<p>Rigging: [ sketch ]
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-4">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161c-6">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />18/7/93 | Plateau - Prospecting above KH | <u>Julian T</u>, Spencer
|
|
|
|
<p>Intention was to sort out the '-' signs made by Wookey & co. in the
|
|
area above the KH system. The first needed 2 ladders + apalling rigging to
|
|
get to a rocky pit going nowhere. The other entrance from that day (the day
|
|
before) required an oversuit (essential gear for proper prospecting). A
|
|
rather snug vertical slot led into a chamber full of rock and gravel
|
|
avalanches. All the ways on seemed to connect together underneath. I double
|
|
checked. Then tried to get out and had to send Spencer (who hadn't entered
|
|
the chamber) up to get the bolting hammer to remove a bit of rock so that I
|
|
could get out. One final lead was a hole on the ridge near the Hinter.
|
|
Proper rigging this time with even a lifeline for this 40' hole. Nearly fell
|
|
through a snowplug at the bottom. Nothing else was down there.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 1 hr J.T.<br>
|
|
½ hr Spencer
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-14">16/7/93</a> | 161 - Ignore this bit | <u>Nick</u>, Hugh, Mike TS
|
|
|
|
<p>Finished off Ignore this bit (off 2nd pitch). There was one more pitch
|
|
before it stopped in a boulder choke. So we surveyed it and prussiked out
|
|
and we were dead efficient (see TU). The pitch is called Ignorance is Bliss,
|
|
and so it is.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU 3½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-12">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-15">Next 161a trip</a> (LHR) /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17">Next RHR trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-18">19/7/93</a> | 161 - KH Rescue Possé | Julian H, Julian S, <u>Alistair M</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Wookey woke up at 10 am, we asked "where's Clive ?" - "Um,
|
|
err, dunno" was the reply. Last saw him at Knossos. He was out of the
|
|
cave at 4.30 am and back to Top Camp at 5:30am assuming Clive was just
|
|
prussiking slowly. But no sign. So Julian S disappeared off to the entrance.
|
|
Me + Julian H followed once it was found that Clive wasn't at base camp.
|
|
Clive's gear was at the entrance, so we headed off down. We eventually found
|
|
Clive prussiking up Poxy. He was generally alright having slept for 1/2
|
|
hours, got horrendously lost at Boulder Alley. He may write his own bit
|
|
later. Well I wanted to see KH, but not really this way. Love + hugs, ALI xx
|
|
|
|
<p>T.U. = 3½ Clive = 27 hours (counted elsewhere)
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-19">Next trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17">The Rescuees' trip</a> (same day)
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|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-16">18/7/93</a> | 161 - Arrow Chamber | <u>Nick</u>, Hugh
|
|
|
|
<p>The return to the holes in Arrow Chamber - this time with more rope,
|
|
fortitude in our hearts and the hastily acquired knowledge of how to tie two
|
|
ropes together. With Hugh looking forward with great delight to his first
|
|
knot pass, we went down the hole to the 'ledge' we had reached previously,
|
|
pausing only whilst I tried to rerig the deviation and dropped it down the
|
|
pitch. Sigh ! Much faffing then ensued. Once we were both safely established
|
|
on the ledge we did some bolting to create a fine freehang over yawning
|
|
nothingness. ('Gibber' to quote Hugh - and I was going first !) Down I went
|
|
- just before the knot pass became inevitable there was a ledge - very
|
|
convenient. The bottom of this pitch 'Pointless' was reached 8m below this
|
|
ledge. Then we found a scrofulous little crawl leading to another chamber.
|
|
'Lets shift some boulders' said Hugh. So he did, opening the passage by,
|
|
ooh, all of half a foot. "We can get through now". Faff, faff,
|
|
take off SRT gear, grunt, rant, faff, thrutch, swear, curse, apple strudel,
|
|
and we're through. Shit - another pitch to rig. Tap, tap, tap for 25 minutes
|
|
until bored, rig another bastard rebelay, go down to bottom, which indeed it
|
|
was. Hoorah ! So we surveyed and derigged our way out, taking oodles of
|
|
rope. Prussiking with two tacklesacks is awful. Almost as crap as caving
|
|
itself (satisfied, Anthony ?) More faffing whilst I derigged the traverse -
|
|
Hugh waiting patiently whilst I swore at every piece of caving gear in
|
|
sight. Eventually finished, dumped the tacklesacks at Dewdrop (?) and came
|
|
slowly out. A good trip. The two pitches have been finished, I didn't die
|
|
and it wasn't epic. It was also my last caving trip. Hooray ! Oh Joy ! Oh
|
|
Rapture ! Now I can go home and do something else other than caving.
|
|
Unfortunately Hugh still has 1½ weeks to go. Ha Ha.<br>
|
|
Right, ranting over, please take the book away from me, before I get
|
|
too pissed (see back).
|
|
|
|
<p>[Nick Pissed Illegible Ranting - from back of logbook. Ed.]
|
|
|
|
<p>Once upon a time there was a caver. He was fucking hard. Nobody liked him.
|
|
The Author of this tale got pissed. The caver fell down a pitch and died.
|
|
The narrator of this tale was pissed and didn't give a toss. This may be
|
|
given as evidence against me and I dont care. Caving is <u>SHIT</u>
|
|
especially with hard bastard <u>adam</u> he is so hard. I want him. . But
|
|
I'll have to make do with weegies and pissed novices. I care not and know
|
|
not as long as they have powerful zooms - Ooh the things we get up to. Too
|
|
much beer. Caving? What a shit idea! There are sceptics who think caving is
|
|
good and a nice idea. Fuck off and die. Caving is shite, especially if you
|
|
follow Adam down to 480m deep and then try to prussik out again. I'm a
|
|
weegie and he's a hard bastard. Fuck off. I'm pissed and dont give a fuck.
|
|
|
|
<p>For my sanity and yours, I shall stop now. If you are a caver, or have
|
|
understood any of the above I would appreciate it if you would fuck off.
|
|
|
|
<p>PS I hate caving<br>
|
|
PPS I am very pissed<br>
|
|
PPS I am extremely pissed<br>
|
|
PPPS FUCK OFF<br>
|
|
PPPPS Goodnight<br>
|
|
PPPPPS Sad Bastard
|
|
|
|
<p> AAARGH ! ! !
|
|
|
|
<p>PPPPPS <u>Julian fuck off and die extremely horribly</u><br>
|
|
|
|
<p><center><u> Nick the Alcoholic </u></center>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>TU 12 hrs
|
|
|
|
<p>Hugh,
|
|
|
|
<p>What boulder, I only kicked it a bit, honestly, as for as the tackle
|
|
sacks' mine threw me off the pitch, rant. Nick was very brave, he only
|
|
ranted most of the way down, and anyway I gave him lots of immoral support
|
|
and carried two tackle sacks out. As for the squeeze I may never be the same
|
|
again, something of me was left for prosperity. It was awfull (sp.)
|
|
|
|
<p>* All relevant rant ends here [can't find the referent * on the
|
|
photocopy, Ed., or in the book - other Ed.]
|
|
|
|
<p>End of rant.
|
|
|
|
<p>Or is it !! Lets hope so !
|
|
|
|
<p> spelling 5/10
|
|
|
|
<p>Look I'm an Engineer, OK !<br>
|
|
Whats gramar anyway ? So am I, ignorant git
|
|
|
|
<p>PS please make the cunning attempt to fill the logbook with complete
|
|
bullshit ! (Sorry, this is what we should be doing anyway)
|
|
|
|
<p>Where's my W.P. it can't spell either, hah ! I got to the end of the
|
|
page, I win, I win, and no you are not going to write here.
|
|
|
|
<p>Oh no you don't cos I can write small.
|
|
|
|
<p>so can I hah !
|
|
|
|
<p>[You can tell this is CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY caving club, can't you ? Ed.]
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-15">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17">Next trip (RHR)</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-17">18/7/93</a> | 161 - KH far too fucking far | Wookey, Mike TS, Lummat, <u>Clive</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Went to the end. Wadders seems to have got it mostly right, (Todd too ie.
|
|
Strange Acrossfall is airy, SSR is MENTAL (Hooray for Aggy)). After leaving
|
|
Wux at Beehive to play camping, we went and crawled up muddy hole which Wux
|
|
found earlier (prev. trip) crawled out, met him, set off surveying it. Got
|
|
bored, exit to Black Velvet for water, food, piss. Carry on scive. Oh, found
|
|
vocal connection to bit W & MTS were rigging. More survey. Others find
|
|
us near end. Then all out. Together as far as Knossos. HGS still airy -
|
|
Lummat preferred to go up & down (he also didn't like the boulder step).
|
|
(Oh, we did some rigging down a pitch too. It went down & stopped in
|
|
mud. A traverse may gain continuation of passage far side. Wux found rope
|
|
later, descended, said 'Why did you leave it ?' as a 9m plumb !) Anyway,
|
|
there we were watching people going up Knossos. Make it up eventually - q
|
|
knackered, lots of resting. Then Shit Alley (Todd is right !) Climb
|
|
following obvious path. Get to top but I carry on up mud path due to lack of
|
|
eyesight (glassed fogged). Up, airy traverse (Wux did it with rope ! I on
|
|
sandy cliff. Must be wrong - descend to bottom of mud path. Where am I ?
|
|
(Completely disorientated, now a bit psyched, cliff) Go down somewhere, see
|
|
2 obvious bolts, Oh must be a pitch, go up again, wander a bit more. Where
|
|
am I ! STOP. Next few hours sitting down hallucinating (heartbeat becomes
|
|
footsteps, waterfall shifting rocks in distance becomes people on ropes
|
|
sending loose shit down). Don't go to sleep or I will die. Sit shivering
|
|
lots, occasionally moving (wait a few hours). Eventually recovered, awake
|
|
sufficiently to sort myself out. So dam obvious pile of shit rocks. 2
|
|
obvious bolts are in fact carbide marks. Until see Knossos rope. Found
|
|
myself ! Climb out (sigh, its hard work) go past overnight bits. Follow
|
|
obvious path now, past cairn and see where I went wrong. Get to Poxy.
|
|
"Hooray I'm on my way again". Start prussiking to hear cavers
|
|
"Hooray the rescue". Lovely to see them. Talk a bit at top of
|
|
Poxy, then set on out. Oh - overnight the lid came off my FX5, so I was
|
|
caving with the battery in dangly bag. After some fudge, Ali held Bungalow
|
|
rope so prussik faster than normal. Going out, find traverse (Wook's climb)
|
|
to slit up - anyway, the wire on my FX eventually broke, so in dark.
|
|
"Julian can you light me" Thank them - they brought a club Oldham.
|
|
Quick lamp swap. Out some more. Cavers everywhere on S'not (like HGS. One on
|
|
traverse, 2 on down/up, one at waiting - cavers dotted randomly round cave)
|
|
Rebelays are good gear. Slowly up 2nd (probably climb up rocks wrong way coz
|
|
a bit airy again) Stop at bottom of entrance to rest, eat fudge so I can get
|
|
out. Out in waterfall (slow again) meet Hugh "tea or coffee" to
|
|
which the answer is milk. Oh well, they tried jolly hard. Wux & Nick
|
|
also there being helpful. Wot nice people team surface are too. Rain. Rain.
|
|
Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain it went. Soaked gear - at least my
|
|
gear will change from "short glob of mud, long glob of mud, mud with
|
|
loop of mud on the end, glob of mud with red muddy handle, etc."
|
|
Change. Walk down (Rain above can be interspersed randomly from here on)
|
|
slowing down - oops tired then. Put pit in bin bag -> car park. Very
|
|
tired then - had to stop on the easy bit of the path ! Drive down slowly
|
|
behind bus - still quite awake - in shreddies. There aren't any bus
|
|
overtaking places on the way down. Campsite. Jump in river -> clean. Eat
|
|
ice lolly. Go to bed. Have supper there (Julian, Dave G sorted that out).
|
|
SLEEP (@ 730 or so !) Wake up to rain. Exit heap at noon when can stand it
|
|
no more. The expo carries on. My feet hurt. Jack out.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U Wux, Lummat, MTS 16½ hrs Clive 27 hrs
|
|
|
|
<p>Camping works with 2 furrys & hat but have to shiver to keep warm. Ta
|
|
for rescue (Julian S, Julian H, Ali) surface (Hugh, Nick, Wux)
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-19">Next trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-18">The Rescuers' trip</a> (same day)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-17b">18/7/93</a> | Further - continuation of previous rant | Wookey
|
|
|
|
<p>MTS & Wook put in some
|
|
hammock bolts - MTS failed to get into hammock at all - laugh - well nearly.
|
|
Dropped a bolard down tiny hole - boo.
|
|
|
|
<p>Went to the end. Found Lummat's pitch rigged - went down to dead end -
|
|
grrr. Measured & derigged (9m). Didn't give expected ramp up to
|
|
continuation on far side - it was a pitch. So went to 9m at the end. MTS
|
|
& then Wook power-drilled down 20m ramp to big chamber. Passage back led
|
|
to previous 2 QMs. Passage to R draughted in & led to small pitch. Huge
|
|
passage forward went about 30m to dead end - grr. Tiny rift on L is t.t.
|
|
Draught at end came out of roof - bugger. Did soil pitch 1st - easier -
|
|
unsure of depth/difficulty so bolted it - proved pointless - abbed about 3
|
|
feet. More windy passages at bottom ------> lots of draught. 1st rift too
|
|
tight, lots of sandy passages beyond - goes to a tight, dodgy soily bit to
|
|
big space - & a 10m pitch.
|
|
|
|
<p>Went to climb: fairly hard, but had threads at all difficult points. Only
|
|
went 10m to a big space & more pitch.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="scrof0.png"><img src="scrof2.png" width=492 height=484
|
|
alt="Scrofulosity area sketch"></a>
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-17">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-20">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />23/7/93 | 161 - entrance | <u>Dave G</u>, Julian S, *DCG, Hugh
|
|
|
|
<p>Felt enthusiastic. Went to cave mouth. Lost Enthusiasm. Went home.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU: David G 10 min (SRT practice at Khöhle entrance.
|
|
I was underground, honest)<br>
|
|
Julian S \ (looking into a nice (ie. doesn't go anywhere) hole<br>
|
|
DCG } 2 min at first snow plug on way to cave)<br>
|
|
Hugh /
|
|
|
|
<p>YOU IDLE BASTARDS
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-19">20/7/93?</a> | 161 - The Far End | Wookey, <u>Pete L</u>, Mike TS
|
|
|
|
<p>Took camping gear down to Beehive and then went caving to utterly the far
|
|
end. The SRT (Silly Rope Tech) was fairly exciting. With mental rigging
|
|
leading to some free climbs that shouldn't have been. The "Three Wise
|
|
Men" rigging in particular was very ... special. We found that we'd
|
|
managed to lose the Hilti driver, and so decided to rely on the bolting kit
|
|
that had been left just between TWM. However, on getting there we decided
|
|
that the bolt driver was missing, so we were completely without any means of
|
|
putting spits in. Wux & Petel surveyed some scrotty passages & found
|
|
a pitch (v. tight) with 3s+ drop, whilst MTS rigged another pitch off
|
|
naturals. By this time we were all shagged, so returned to campsite at
|
|
Beehive. Having consumed our vestas, we retired - Wux to his thermarest on
|
|
the ground, MTS & Petel to their hammocks strung off spits across the
|
|
passage. Seven hours later we arose, with Wux having had 6 hrs of sleep
|
|
& MTS & Petel having no sleep after being strapped into hammocks.
|
|
Veggie meals led to another days caving with MTS & Wux surveying whilst
|
|
Petel descended new scrotty pitch series, left going due to lack of things
|
|
to rig off. After that days caving we gave up as it was too awful - mud
|
|
everywhere and no bolting gear (thats why we jacked, honest). So after a
|
|
thoroughly awful trip out with too many tacklesacks we emerged into the
|
|
rain.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 37 hrs (Petel, MTS)<br>
|
|
38 hrs (Wux)
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161-19a">More of this trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-17b">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161-20">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-6">22/7/93</a> | 161 - France | Julian H, Spencer, Ali, Anthony, <u>Julian T</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>The other four departed from Top Camp an hour before I did and were still
|
|
faffing at the entrance. One hour later, Spencer was still not underground.
|
|
I poked around in an unmarked hole, then thought about going down. Met
|
|
Spencer before 2nd pitch (there are only two pitches) and waited a bit more.
|
|
Apparently Anthony fucked up on the Algeria rebelay by clipping
|
|
<u>around</u> the loop of the rebelay (thus wedging krab over knot) instead
|
|
of through the loop. He didn't die. Or even fall. The task was to explore
|
|
the hole in the wall opposite the pitch rope (free climbed, but now had a
|
|
prussiking rope). On the other side is "Twin Tubs". Two pitches,
|
|
one next to the other. The closer one (which you have to traverse over) is
|
|
the "Washer". The other one is the Drier. Julian H rigged Washer
|
|
on Wook's BCRA prize rope while Anthony and Ali did work on the Drier (more
|
|
bolts required 'cause of ledges). J.H. asked Spencer if he wanted to go down
|
|
it or survey (with me). Spencer opted to go down. Julian H surveyed with me.
|
|
We were fairly efficient. And got around to Washer (after part of Drier).
|
|
Shouted down to Spencer. "It doesn't go", he said. Ali went down.
|
|
Came back after a poke around. Very silently. Due to the water. Then we
|
|
waited for Spencer to come up. It definitely sounded like a Monkey House
|
|
down there. Groans and cusses. Julian H identified problem as bollocks. This
|
|
was confirmed. He must have attached the tackle sack to his scrotum instead
|
|
of central MR. A & A were "cringing" behind a boulder with
|
|
each wail of pain. J.H. and me surveyed down. An appallingly rigged 5m pitch
|
|
bolted to a boulder was below this 26m pitch. I went down. It was a standard
|
|
boulder jam that makes you feel intimidated and unwilling to poke around too
|
|
much. We got out. Horrible drippy pitch which makes water pool in your
|
|
oversuit bum and fill your wellies. (Before this, Ali and Anthony discovered
|
|
that their route merged with this route so J.H. handed them the survey
|
|
equipment.) I cleared out of the cave early. Too cold. It was raining (it
|
|
fucking rains all the fucking time. This country has a weather woman, not a
|
|
weather man, thats why its so crap). I walked back in caving gear with 3m
|
|
visibility, many backtracks necessary 'cause to lose the path would have
|
|
been epic. It took over an hour. The others arrived at 3:15 am (I got to Top
|
|
Camp at 1 am) after shoving in a few bolts in readiness for their next
|
|
pushing front.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/U 8 hrs (JT)<br>
|
|
13 hrs (the others)
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161c-7">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-7">25/7/93</a> | 161 - France | Julian H, <u>Alistair M</u>, Pete L, *Seb, Hugh
|
|
|
|
<p>"Shitty when wet"
|
|
|
|
<p>A bright sunny day dawned over base camp so the intrepid explorers raced
|
|
up to top camp, then sat, festered, ate a vesta, took some photos and
|
|
eventually trogged over to the cave. Soon ish people began to drift into the
|
|
entrance. Soon Julian and I were in Algeria. I placed a spit at the top of
|
|
question mark at the east side of Algeria. Julian went down one of the holes
|
|
in the floor, unfortunately found more QMs looking a bit like this:
|
|
|
|
<p>[sketch plan "Drawn by Julian H Aged 3¾"]
|
|
|
|
<p>This is a highly accurate grade 6C survey of course. He wasn't drunk
|
|
though.
|
|
|
|
<p>As I came around the corner to find Julian with the spits there was a
|
|
sudden change in the noise and water level. Algeria went wet. [There was
|
|
2½ inches in 15min at base camp] Once Seb, Hugh and Petel had got to
|
|
Algeria it was too wet and windy to push so we went back out. Seb was slowish
|
|
on the way out. I got out ½ hour before Julian H. I was cold so Hugh
|
|
and I headed back. Julian H waited for 1 hour, made voice contact with Pete,
|
|
everything was OK so also headed back. The weather was shite. Pete and Seb
|
|
got lost slightly [an arrow points to this word from the caption
|
|
"fucking loads"] on the way back and eventually got back to top
|
|
camp 3 hours after Hugh and I.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU Ali - 4 hours<br>
|
|
Hugh + Julian H - 4½ hours<br>
|
|
Pete + Seb - 6 hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1993-161c-8">Next trip</a> (derigging)
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161c-8">27/7/93</a> | 161 - France - Derigging | Julian H, Pete L, Hugh, <u>Dave G</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Derigging France
|
|
|
|
<p>Because Ali had to get an early lift to Bad Ischl to catch his train, we
|
|
decided to be ultra efficient and had left base camp by 6.30 am. Stopped for
|
|
breakfast at top camp and woke them up there. We were underground by 10, and
|
|
headed straight down to Algeria. Derigging was fun - but not as much fun as
|
|
hauling the rope out ! Hugh volunteered to bring a full Goldflash out from
|
|
Algeria - after the first few prussiks he rapidly regretted it ! Meanwhile,
|
|
we made a slight error on the tacklesack front, and so Julian H and David G
|
|
ended up taking out overflowing tacklesacks, Julian hauling about one
|
|
hundred metres of rope out the 1st pitch hand over hand. There was much
|
|
ranting from all four of us at the cave mouth, but we were appeased by a
|
|
brilliant blue sky and the arrival of Spencer + Anthony to cart away gear.
|
|
|
|
<p>TU Petel + Hugh 5½ hrs<br>
|
|
David G 6 hrs<br>
|
|
Julian H 6½ hrs
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1993-161c-7">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="../1994/log.htm#id1994-161c-1">Next trip</a> (in 1994)
|
|
|
|
<hr />27/7/93 | Base camp - Hang gliding | Clive, *Seb, <u>Julian T</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Hang-gliding in a west wind (crap direction)
|
|
|
|
<p>I tried 2 flights. First was rubbish - no lift at all. Passing German
|
|
laughed "ten minutes". Fuck off. Tried again after buying Clive
|
|
and Seb an ice cream. This time managed to soar below take off on west face
|
|
close enough to the rock to see my shadow. Most of the time I shared
|
|
airspace with a helicopter which flipped here and there and once passed by
|
|
dangling a dead cow by its neck. I reckon this is a good symbol for this
|
|
expo.
|
|
|
|
<p>T/above ground 40 mins
|
|
|
|
<hr /><a id="id1993-161-20">27/7/93</a> | 161 - Far too far | Wookey, Mike TS, <u>Julian S</u>
|
|
|
|
<p>Went to Far Too Far to pick up two tacklesacks and drill. God it was
|
|
awful. Wooks & MTS looked at nasty hole in Tblocks. Didn't go. That
|
|
drill battery is a little fat bastard ! The two hard bastards each pulled
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dozens of tacklesacks out through S'not (6 bags between 2 for Gods sake).
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Wookey drops large rock (it was fuckin huge) about 20 ft onto Julian S (who
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is a complete wimp and was making fucking heavy going with Geraldine and
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LFB). It hurt. A lot. I shouted. A lot. Bastard. Wux + MTS prove superhero
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status by taking the baggies all the way out. I was knackered.
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-19">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1993-161-21">Next trip</a> (final derig)
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<p>T/U 8½ hrs
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<hr /><a id="id1993-161-21">1993-07-28</a> | 161 - derigging | <u>Wook</u> & Mike TS
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<p>The last derigging trip !
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<p>Waited till torrential rain turned to sensible rain (11 am) Fixed 3 !
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broken poles on my crap expensive Wild Country tent. Trogged up to cave,
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went caving - down to Knossos in 25 mins (1 hr 15 from Top Camp !)
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<p>Efficient derigging - out after 4 hrs - still bloody raining.
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<p>TU 4 hrs
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<p><a href="#id1993-161-20">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="../1994/log.htm#id1994-161-1">Next trip</a> (rigging in 1994)
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<hr />
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<!-- LINKS -->
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<ul id="links">
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<li>1993 Expedition info:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
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<li><a href="report.htm">Cambridge Underground report</a></li>
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<li><a href="bcracc.htm">BCRA Caves and Caving</a> Report</li>
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<li>This year's <a href="sponsr.htm">Sponsors</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1993">Published accounts</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition intro page</a></li>
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<li><A href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home page</a>
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</ul>
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</body>
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</html>
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